Aripiprazole Uses

Atypical antipsychotic drugs such as aripiprazole are used to manage schizophrenia, a psychiatric condition characterized by unusual thinking patterns and strong or unusual emotions. Additionally, aripiprazole is prescribed to people with bipolar disorder who are experiencing manic or mixed episodes. Aripiprazole is also used as an add-on treatment for depression that has not responded to antidepressant medication alone. Other uses of aripiprazole include the treatment of irritable behaviors in children with autistic disorders and the treatment of tics (repetitive movements) in children with Tourette’s disorder. 

There may be other uses of aripiprazole—your doctor or pharmacist can give you further drug information.

Aripiprazole Mechanism of Action

Aripiprazole is an antipsychotic medicine. It rebalances the levels of dopamine and serotonin in the brain. These are natural chemicals that affect mood, thoughts, and behaviors.  

Aripiprazole Doses

Aripiprazole comes in the form of tablets (2 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, and 30 mg), orally disintegrating tablets (10 mg, 15 mg, 20 mg, and 30 mg), and a liquid solution 1 mg/mL. It is also available as an injection solution for use in healthcare settings. Abilify Mycite is a brand name product of aripiprazole tablets for adults that have a sensor inside that provides information about how the medicine is taken. Long-lasting depot injections of aripiprazole are available for the treatment of schizophrenia with once-monthly shots.

The usual dose of aripiprazole is as follows:

• Schizophrenia in adults: Initial and recommended dose 10-15 mg/day, maximum dose 30 mg/day.
• Schizophrenia in adolescents: Initial dose 2 mg/day, recommended dose 10 mg/day, maximum dose 30 mg/day.
• Bipolar mania in adults on aripiprazole alone: Initial and recommended dose 15 mg/day, maximum dose 30 mg/day.
• Bipolar mania in adults as an adjunct to lithium or valproate: Initial dose 10-15 mg/day, recommended dose 15 mg/day, maximum dose 30 mg/day.
• Bipolar mania in pediatric patients: Initial dose 2 mg/day, recommended dose 10 mg/day, maximum dose 30 mg/day.
• Major depressive disorder in adults as an adjunct to antidepressants: Initial dose 2-5 mg/day, recommended dose 5-10 mg/day, maximum dose 15 mg/day.
• Irritability associated with autistic disorder in children: Initial dose 2 mg/day, recommended dose 5-10 mg/day, maximum dose 15 mg/day.
• Tourette syndrome in children weighing less than 50 kg: Initial dose 2 mg/day, recommended dose 5 mg/day, maximum dose 10 mg/day.
• Tourette syndrome in children weighing more than 50 kg: Initial dose 2 mg/day, recommended dose 10 mg/day, maximum dose 20 mg/day.
• Agitation associated with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia: 9.75 mg/1.3 mL injected into a muscle, maximum dose 30 mg/day by intramuscular injection.